Improvement in railroad-car springs



UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

HEMAN GARDINER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAlLROAD-CAR SPRINGS.

Specificatiou forning part of Letters Patcnt No. 38,105, (lated April 7, 1863; antedated November 20, 1862.

To allwhom 't may concer'n:

the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'in springs for railroad-cars and other purposes, which I have designa-ted the Combinecl SpiroElliptic lVool-Packed Gar- Spring; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full description ot' the same.

The nature of my invention consists, first,

in the combination of a senielliptie spring,

supported at its ends between shoulders on a bed-piece, with a cyli'ndrical netal box ar- 'anged over the apex ot' the spring, so as to sustain the load steadily and unit'ornly tlereon.

And the second part of my invention consists in the arrangenent of three or more or less number of spiral springs in a cylindrical metal box, between a cap and bottom plate, having pins in their opposing faces, upon which the ends of the spiral springs are adjusted to keep them in a vertical position, in combination with a semielliptic spring arranged upon a bed-piece transversely of the bottom of the eylindrical box.

And the third part of my invention consists in packing the spiral springs contained in a cylindrical metal box with wool, hair, or other similar fibrous substance.

And the fourth part of my invention consists in forming on the upper surface of the cap-plate, covering the upper ends of the spiral springs, a concave seat for the bearings of the truck-plate, so as to allow the car to have an easy fore and-aft vibratory motion upon the springs, and at the same time not jani or bear unequally on them.

But to describe my invention more particularly, I will refer to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, the same letters of reference, wherever they occur, referring to like parts.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the spring. Fig. 2 is a vertical cut section of the same through the line w x, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an end side View of the spring. Fig. 4 is a lower face view of the truck-hearing& Fig. 5 is a view of the under side of the spiral springs, capplate, showing the ends of the pins on which the upper ends of the spiral springs are Secured, Fig. 6 is a view of the upper side of the bottom plate, on which the lower end of the spiral l springs are adjusted on the pins projecting Be it known that I, HEMAN GARDINER, of

upward therefrom.

Letter A is a bedplate, upon the ends of which, on its upper face, are formed flanges of metal B, to prevent the semi-elliptic spring O from getting ont of place on the bed. Over" the middle of the areh of this spring, and rest-` ing upon the bed A, is adjusted a cylindrical metal box, I), of such length and diameter as may be required in the Construction of the spring. In the lower part of the box D is arranged a metal plate, E, so as to rest loosely upon the apex of the senielliptic spring. Letters F are several short pins or studs secured in the upper face of the plate E. On these pins are adjusted three spiral springs, G, which extend upward in length to near the top of the box l), and are held down intoit by means of a capplate, H, having projecting from its lower face three short pins or studs, I, ot' corresponding length with thosein the bottom plate, E, and which enter into the cavity of the upper ends of the spiral springs. The object of these pins or studs F and I are, first, to steady the spiral springs and keep them iu a vertical position; and, secondly, and the more important function required of them, to govern and control the action of the spiral springs with reference to developing the elasticity of the semieliptic spring. This is done by making then ot' such specific length, with reference to the length of the spiral springs, that they will come in contact before the spiral springs have been fully exhausted, and thus relieving them and transferring the load to the semi-elliptio spring, thereby causing a continuous elastic development of power until the whole combination is exhausted.

Letter J is a concave step or seat formed upon the upper side of the cap-plate H, into which rests a semi cylindrical hearing, K, formed on the lower face of the truck-plate L, the operation of such a device being to allow of a fore-and-aft vibratory motion in the car, without affecting sensiblythe vertical pressure of the superincumbent weight upon the spiral springs. i

Letter M, as indicated by the yellowcolored parts, represents a packing of wool or hair, surrounding and filling' the spaces between the spiral springs and sides ot' the box in which they are adjusted. This paching is intended to form an eiastic support to the spiral springs. The material intended to be used vibratory motion, in consequence of thcsensitiveness of the spiral'springs and the ela-sticity of the wool packing; but When the load is so great, or 'the sudden joltings over inequa lities of the track cause the s'tuds or pins in the upper andiower-em 1s of the spiral springs to come in contact, :the elastic force of the semi-eiliptic spring is developed, and `thus by the combined 'action of all the elastic :forces a constant and easy elastic i'bra-tory motion is developed to sustain the'load. i

'Having now described my invention and its operation, I will proceed to set forth what I claim and desire to secure 'by Letters Patent 1. The use ot' the seni-eliiptic spring supported on a bed-plate between the flanges B, in comhination with the box D arranged and Operating snbstantially as hereinb'efore set forth.

2. The use of the pia-tes E and H, having short studs or pins F and I in their opposing faces, as hereinbefore set forth, in combinat ion with the spiral springs G and box D, arranged in Operating in combination with the semi-elliptic spring, snbstantiall y as hereinbefore set forth.

3. 'Dhe use of wool, or other fibrous material of& similar nature, packedin a cyiinder or box, in combinatio with the spira-l steel springs, for the purposes hereinbefore set forth 4. The use ot'ihe sen'i-cyiindrical 'bearings K on the truck-Mate, in combination with the oap-plate E, Working in the cylind'icai boXD, and resting upon the spiral springs, for the purposes 'hereinbefore set forth.

HEMA N GARD INEB.

\Vitnesses:

'0. L. BARRITT, JO R. MO'RIIOUS. 

